A Weekend in Dublin, Ireland
Updated: Apr 26, 2020
Rolling green plains, ancient castles, dramatic cliffs, and a vibrant history. Ireland has been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember… even if it was just in the hopes that I’d spot a leprechaun or find a pot of gold.
Lewis and I booked a spur of the moment city break long weekend in Dublin and soaked in as much of the Irish culture as we possibly could.
Getting There:
We got a great deal with Ryanair flying directly from London Stansted to Dublin Airport. I recommend using SkyScanner to find the most affordable flights within the United Kingdom.
What to Do:
–Guinness Storehouse: To be honest, I was on the fence about visiting the Guinness Storehouse or not but I am SO SO glad we went! Set aside most of your day or at least a full afternoon to do the tour. There are seven floors to explore at the storehouse, each with their own theme and vibe. My personal favorite was the tasting experience on the 2nd floor. It’s a full on sensory experience where you are taught to properly smell and identify the different components that go into the beer, how to get the best taste and fully enjoy your beer. The 7th floor 360 degree gravity bar was pretty epic too, great for photos! I know it’s super touristy but don’t miss the chance to visit the Guinness Storehouse, it’s a definite must-do in Ireland.
–Day Trip to Cliffs of Moher: You may recognize the jaw-dropping Cliffs of Moher from the Harry Potter films or The Princess Bride. These fantasy book cliffs offer panoramic views of the sea and are some of the coolest natural sights I’ve ever seen. The day tour to the Cliffs of Moher with Irish Day Tours still holds as one of my all-time favorite day trips I’ve ever taken. Irish Day Tours did such a fantastic job of keeping the (cross-country!) trip to the cliffs fun and interesting. We broke up the journey with multiple stops to castles, abbeys and historic villages.
–Trinity Library: This insta-worthy library just makes me want to curl up with a cup of tea and get lost in a story. The 300+ year old “Long Room” is home to more than 200,000 books! There is a small fee to visit the library which is a bummer but you also get to see the Book of Kells which is a cool claim to fame.
Temple Bar: Is a trip to Dublin complete without grabbing a beer and a Guinness stew along Temple Bar? I don’t think so!
Dinner Recommendation: The Old Storehouse
We stumbled along the Old Storehouse one evening as it we were exploring Temple Bar and it began to rain. We were ushered down into a basement with stone walls and wooden countertops. An Irish band played for the intimate crowd looking to warm up with a Guinness and some stew. The food was so good that we ended up eating here two nights in a row.
Have you ever been to Dublin? What do you recommend? Leave me a comment below!